Surface oil containment device

ABSTRACT

A device for containing oil spills in the open sea, comprising a plurality of hanger float structures having a continuous flexible wall or barrier suspended therefrom that encircles and contains an oil spill, the bottom edge of the wall being weighted and submerged, and the hanger float structures being connected with and held in place by spaced anchor float structures to which anchors are attached.

United States Patent Denison 1 SURFACE OIL CONTAINMENT DEVICE [72] Inventor: Cleo S. Denison, PO. Box 5, Lynn,

Ark. 72440 [22] Filed: July 7, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 52,899

[52] US. Cl. ..61/1 F, 4/5 T [51] Int. Cl ..E02b 3/00, E02b 15/04 [58] Field of Search ..6l/l F, 5; 210/242; 114/5 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,548,599 12/1970 Reilly ..6I/1 1,846,278 2/1932 Roane ..6l/5 3,567,019 3/1971 v Headrick ..6l/l FX [451 Oct. 3, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7 60,964 3/1968 Germany ..61/ 1 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro AttorneyRaphael Semmes 57 ABSTRACT A device for containing oil spills in the open sea, comprising a plurality of hanger float structures having a continuous flexible wall or barrier suspended therefrom that encircles and contains an oil spill, the bottom edge of the wall being weighted and submerged, and the hanger float structures being connected with and held in place by spaced anchor float structures to which anchors are attached.

3 Clains, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED T 3 I972 SHEET 2 [If 2 ATTORNEY SURFACE OIL CONTAINMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to devices for containing oil or the like floating on a body of water, and more particularly to a containment device usable in rough open seas for containing accidental oil spills.

2. Description of the Prior Art I I There have been incidents across the world where accidental oil spills have occurred in the open seas because of such events as the rupturing or sinking of a tanker ship or the breaking of a pipe in an off-shore oil drilling installation. When these incidents occur the spilled oil, initially confined to a small area, frequently spreads over a larger and larger water area. The expanding oil slick is moved by wave and wind action, and in some instances, has lapped onto beaches, destroying recreational facilities and endangering wildlife and the ecology in general.

Thus far no way has been found for satisfactorily dealing with such oil spills, so that damage to life and property is avoided. Specifically, no satisfactory device has been available for containing an oil spill after it occurs and before it spreads over a wide area, especially a device that can be successfully installed and main tained in the presence of heavy seas.

There thus is need for such a containment device, and the present invention satisfies that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The containment device of the invention includes a plurality of hanger float structures, which are spaced around the area in the water that is to be confined. A suspension cable is carried by the hanger floats, and suspended therefrom is a continuous flexible wall, made of waterproof canvas or the like.

The flexible wall has a height substantially greater than the height of the suspension cable above the surface of the water," and the bottom edge thereof has weights attached thereto at spaced intervals around the circumference thereof. This arrangement results in the lower part of the flexible wall becoming and remaining submerged, even in heavy seas.

The great problem with containment devices previously contemplated has been to keep them in place for prolonged periods, under adverse sea conditions. This problem is solved in the present invention by the use of a plurality of spaced anchor float structures that are placed outwardly from the hanger floats but which are connected thereto by cables. Each anchor float structure is secured in place by an anchor, placed outwardly therefrom. The result of this arrangement is that the flexible containment wall remains in place even in rough seas, the structure being sufiiciently flexible to absorb waves of considerable size without damage.

The present structure can be carried to the scene of an oil spill, and thereafter can be quickly erected to confine the oil. Conventional equipment can then be utilized to remove the oil from the surface of the water, after which the present containment device can be disassembled and stored for later use. Further, if desired the invention can be installed permanently around offshore drilling rigs, to be ready for any spillage emergency.

7 It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a containment device that can be easily installed on the open seas to confine an oil spill, and which when installed will remain in place in the presence of heavy seas.

Another object is to provide means to anchor a continuous confinement wall in the open sea.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become readily APPARENT from the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments, when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the containment device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view, partly in section, of one of the anchoring fixtures of the containment device of FIG. 1, taken along the line 2 2 of. FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the anchoring fixture of FIG. 2, taken on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through a portion of the barrier, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and, I

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, an oil slick S is shown on a body of water W, and is confined'by the device 2 of the present invention. The containment device 2 includes a plurality of hanger float structures or fixtures 4 spaced around the periphery of the oil slick S, the construction of the fixtures 4 being shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Each hanger fixture 4 includes a pair of spaced, sealed drums 6 of the 55 gallon or similar size, which drums support a suspension frame 8. The frame 8 includes a base angle member l0 welded on each drum 6 to extend the length thereof, to each of which is welded the lower end of an upright angle member 12. The angle members 12 are positioned centrally of the drums 6, and are braced by inclined members 14 welded thereto and to the outer ends of the base angle members 10. a

A bridging angle member 16 is welded to extend between the upper ends of the upright members 12, and is braced by a pair of inclined angle members 18. Centrally thereof each bridging member 16 has a short hanger angle member 20 welded to the bottom surface thereof, the hanger members 20 extending perpendicularly to the bridging members 16 and projecting about equally from both sides thereof. A pair of U-bolts 22 is mounted on the opposite ends of the depending vertical flange of each hanger member 20, the U-bolts 22 on all of the hanger fixtures 4 supporting a continuous suspension cable 24. Centrally of the top edge of each bridging member 16 is welded a U-shaped hook 25, for use in handling the hanger fixture 4.

Suspended from the cable 24 is a flexible, continuous wall or barrier 26, made of waterproof canvas, plastic or some other suitable material. The top edge 28 of the wall or barrier 26 has edging thereon, having spaced grommeted holes 30 therein. A lace 32 is passed through the grommeted holes 30 and over the suspension cable 24, to thereby hang the barrier 26 in place.

The flexible wall 26 has a height about twice the height of the suspension cable 24 above the water W, and the lower edge 34 thereon is bound and has spaced,

grommeted holes 36 therein. Weights 38 are suspended from the grommeted holes 36 and are spaced around the periphery of the wall or barrier 26. The weights 38 thus serve to submerge the lower half of the barrier or wall 26, whereby effective containment of the oil slick S is obtained.

It will be noted that the weighted wall or barrier 26 hangs like a pendulum from the inverted U-shaped suspension frame 8, an arrangement which allows the spaced hanger fixtures 4 and the wall or barrier 26 to ride with the waves, even in heavy seas, without being damaged or displaced. Thus, for so long as the hanger fixtures 4 are in place whereby the suspension cable 24 is taut, effective containment of the oil slick S is ob tained.

The hanger fixtures 4 are fixed in position by a plurality of anchor float structures or fixtures 40 disposed outwardly of and spaced around the periphery of the wall or barrier 26. Each anchor fixture 40 comprises four sealed drums 42, welded to an anchor frame 44 comprised of parallel side angle members 46 welded to parallel end angles 48. The sideangle members 46 have a plurality of U shaped, spaced brackets 50 welded to the outer face thereof, one for each hanger fixture 4 to be anchored thereby.

The hanger fixtures 4, like the anchor fixtures 40, are formed identically on opposite sides to make for ease in placement thereof in the water. Thus, secured to the top of each upright angle member 12 is an eye-bolt 52.

,The containment wall or barrier 26 can assume any of several geometric configurations when in place about the oil slick S, including that of a circle or a polygon. In the drawings the configuration is octagonal,

and for this arrangement eight of the anchor fixtures 40 are employed, each being connected to five hanger fixtures 4. The hanger fixture 4 at each comer of the octagon is anchor-ed by two anchor fixtures 40, thus helping to ensure retention of the octagonal shape.

The hanger fixtures 4 are connected to the anchor fixtures 40 by cables 54 which are attached to extend tautly between the eye-bolts 52 on the outer face'of the suspension frames 8 andthe U-shaped brackets 50 on the inner faces of the anchor fixtures 40. The anchor fixtures 40, being outboard of the wall or barrier 26, are themselves anchored in position by anchors 56, connected to a central one of the brackets 50 on the outer face of each anchor fixture 40 by a cable 58.

The result is a spider web-like arrangement, wherein the flexible wall or barrier 26 is firmly anchored in position, and yet because of the play allowed by the cables 54 and 58 is allowed considerable vertical movement for riding with waves and generally rough seas. The

barrier 26 can be deployed easily at the site of an oil spill, is effective to contain the spill even in rough seas, and later can be taken in for use elsewhere.

Once the oil slick S is contained, of course, it can be removed from the water W by conventional equipment.

It is obvious that the barrier or wall 26 can be made of 4 nearly any rcumferenc and, that it can assgme any old any desired configuration. All that is necessary to given shape is to adjust the cables 54 to the proper length.

Given very quiet water, the barrier or wall 26 might even be erected without the anchor fixtures 40, in

which case the anchors 56 can be used directly thereon. However, use of the anchor fixtures 40 is preferable, especially where rough seas may be encountered.

If the containment device 2 is to be placed in navigable waters, then, of course, lights or other navigational aids or markers should be placed thereon..These can be mounted on the frames 44 or the frames 8, or on both, if desirable.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible.

I claim:

1. A containment device for use in containing an oil slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures each including a pair of spaced flotation members having an inverted, erect U-shaped frame attached thereto, said hanger fixtures adapted for disposition on said water in spaced positions around said oil slick, suspension cable means suspended from the top of said U-shaped frame about midway between said flotation members, said suspension cable extending around the periphery of said oil slick, and a flexible, continuous wall suspended from said suspension cable means, and having a height greater than the distance measured between the sur-' face of said water and said suspension cable means.

slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures arranged in spaced relationship around said oil slick, and each comprising a pair of spaced flotation members connected by an upright, inverted U-shaped frame extending a substantial height above the water surface, a suspension cable encompassing said oil slick and suspended from the top of said U-shaped frames midway between said flotation members, and a continuous flexible wallfreely suspended proximate the top thereof from said suspension cable and having substantial vertical portions extending above and below the water surface, the lower edge of said wall submersed in said water being weighted.

3. A containment device for use in containing an oil slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures arranged in spaced relationship around said oil slick, and each comprising a pair of spaced flotation members connected by an upright, inverted U-shaped frame; a suspension cable encompassing said oil slick and suspended from the top of said U-shaped frames midway between said flotation members; and a continuous flexible wall suspended from said suspension cable, the lower edge of said wall being weighted and being submersible in said water, a plurality of anchor float fixtures disposed in spaced relationship outwardly of said wall; cable means connecting each anchor fixture with at least one of said hanger fixtures; and an anchor disposed outwardly of each of said anchor fixtures, and connected thereto by a cable. 

1. A containment device for use in containing an oil slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures each including a pair of spaced flotation members having an inverted, erect U-shaped frame attached thereto, said hanger fixtures adapted for disposition on said water in spaced positions around said oil slick, suspension cable means suspended from the top of said U-shaped frame about midway between said flotation members, said suspension cable extending around the periphery of said oil slick, and a flexible, continuous wall suspended from said suspension cable means, and having a height greater than the distance measured between the surface of said water and said suspension cable means.
 2. A containment deviCe for use in containing an oil slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures arranged in spaced relationship around said oil slick, and each comprising a pair of spaced flotation members connected by an upright, inverted U-shaped frame extending a substantial height above the water surface, a suspension cable encompassing said oil slick and suspended from the top of said U-shaped frames midway between said flotation members, and a continuous flexible wall freely suspended proximate the top thereof from said suspension cable and having substantial vertical portions extending above and below the water surface, the lower edge of said wall submersed in said water being weighted.
 3. A containment device for use in containing an oil slick or the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of hanger float fixtures arranged in spaced relationship around said oil slick, and each comprising a pair of spaced flotation members connected by an upright, inverted U-shaped frame; a suspension cable encompassing said oil slick and suspended from the top of said U-shaped frames midway between said flotation members; and a continuous flexible wall suspended from said suspension cable, the lower edge of said wall being weighted and being submersible in said water, a plurality of anchor float fixtures disposed in spaced relationship outwardly of said wall; cable means connecting each anchor fixture with at least one of said hanger fixtures; and an anchor disposed outwardly of each of said anchor fixtures, and connected thereto by a cable. 